2024 Animal Feeding Operations General Permits
AFO General Permits extension
Pursuant to changes directed by SL 2024-32, Section 5.1, state General Permit certificates of coverage for six animal feeding operations types have been extended to Sept. 30, 2026. Read more here.
About the 2024 general permits
The Division of Water Resources is required to finalize the renewal of six state general permits effective on Oct. 1, 2024, as part of its five-year review and revision cycle. These will include updates to the 2019 State General Animal Waste Management Permits for three types of operations: swine, cattle and poultry with a liquid waste management system. It will also include the renewals of the 2022 Digester General Permits for the same types of operations with a farm digester system. The Digester General Permits were developed as a result of a process directed by the 2021 Farm Act. The 2022 digester permit development process is detailed here.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold multiple public hearings and a 90-day comment period on six draft Animal Feeding Operations general permits. These general permits are for eligible non-discharge swine, cattle and poultry facilities with liquid waste management systems and animal feeding operations with farm digester systems. Public input received at the events and through Nov. 3, 2023, will be considered in the development of the general permits, which will become effective Oct. 1, 2024.
Public Hearings
The public hearings will be held by Division of Water Resources staff at the following dates and locations. Hearings will begin at 6 p.m., with registration of speakers and attendees for the in-person hearings beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Copies of the draft permits, draft annual report forms and related fact sheets are available below. Documents translated into Spanish will also be posted at this location.
Draft Environmental Justice Report
Public Comments
The public is invited to send comments on any aspect of the draft general permits for swine, cattle or poultry with a liquid waste management system, as well as the draft general permits for swine, cattle or poultry with a liquid waste digester system.
Comments received by Nov. 3, 2023, will be considered in the development of final General Permits.
Ways to submit comments:
Email: publiccommentsDWR@deq.nc.gov
Phone: 919-707-3705
Mail: Ramesh Ravella
Animal Feeding Operations
NC Division of Water Resources
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1636
Summer/Fall 2023: Draft permit comment period:
Aviso De Audiencia Pública DWR 3 de agosto de 2023
| Event | Location | Date and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Public Hearing | James Sprunt Community College, 133 James Sprunt Drive, Kenansville, NC 28349 | 6 p.m. Oct. 5, 2023 |
| Public Hearing | Wayne Community College, 3000 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534 | 6 p.m. Oct. 10, 2023 |
| Public Hearing | Statesville Civic Center, 300 S. Center St., Statesville, NC 28677 | 6 p.m. Oct. 24, 2023 |
| Public Hearing | Virtual meeting link | Comment sign-up form Línea telefónica en español (solo audio): +1-415-655-0003 | Código de acceso: 242 174 69969 | 6 p.m. Oct. 26, 2023 |
In the event of weather conditions preventing a public meeting, a backup in-person hearing will be held at the following date and location:
WHEN: October 19, 2023 , 6 p.m.
WHERE: James Sprunt Community College, 133 James Sprunt Drive, Kenansville, NC 28349
Spring 2023: Stakeholder process:
April 5, 2023 press release
Aviso De Audiencia Pública DWR Abril 2023
May 9, 2023 event information
Public comment period information
| Event | Type of Feedback | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Stakeholder Process | Technical Workgroup Sessions | April/May 2023 |
| Stakeholder Process | Public Input Session | May 9, 2023 |
| Stakeholder Process | Comment Period - oral, written and electronic comments accepted | April 4-June 5, 2023 |
Animal Waste Management General Permits
- Swine Permit Draft | Redline | Spanish
- Cattle Permit Draft | Redline | Spanish
- Wet Poultry Permit Draft | Redline | Spanish
Digester General Permits
- Swine Digester General Permit Draft | Redline | Spanish
- Cattle Digester General Permit Draft | Redline | Spanish
- Wet Poultry Digester General Permit Draft | Redline | Spanish
Draft Environmental Justice Report
Fact sheet | Spanish
Annual report | Spanish
Groundwater monitoring | Spanish
Animal Waste Management General Permits - Effective Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2024:
Digester General Permits - Effective July 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2024:
Existing Digester Permits:
Information will be updated quarterly in the menu on the right of this page, under "2022 Digester System General Permits."
About animal waste digester systems
Animal waste digester systems are a combination of animal waste digestion equipment (digester) and covered lagoons that process animal waste and collect gases from animal waste. Learn more about the process from the Environmental Protection Agency.